The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

Qingying told her to get up.

Aruo stepped forward, took the tray, and presented it to Qingying.

Qingying reached out and touched the fabric, noticing the fine stitches and elegant pattern, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Well done."

She looked up and saw the sweat on the embroiderer's forehead and a few damp strands of hair. Her tone softened further: "It's so hot, and you're still walking around like this. You must be tired. Come in and have a cup of tea, rest your feet, and then continue your journey."

The embroiderer looked up and glanced gratefully at Qingying, then whispered her thanks: "Thank you for your consideration, Consort. However, I have been out for a while and there are still some tasks to finish in the embroidery room. It would be too much of a delay."

Qingying's smile faltered slightly, but only for a moment, before she quickly recovered.

"If that's the case, I won't force you."

Qingying smiled and nodded: "Go back to your post."

The embroiderer bowed again.

Aruo, holding the tray, gave her a cold glare before following Qingying into the inner room.

The embroiderer waited for the two to turn around before raising her hand to wipe the sweat from her temples.

He let out a long sigh of relief, a light smile returning to his face, and turned to leave.

After entering the room, A'Ruo put her nightgown on the bed and eagerly recounted how she had found the embroiderer at the courtyard gate and how she had heard her talk about the new rules of the Prince's Mansion.

Of course, she only said that the embroiderer saw the prince in the courtyard and dared not come in, so she hid outside to wait, never mentioning that she had punished someone by making them kneel under the scorching sun.

"So the rules the Fujin has set are this strict." A'Ruo's eyes held a hint of schadenfreude as she said, "My lady, the Fujin is keeping her distance from people."

Qingying looked down at the nightgown, and the face of the embroiderer from earlier reappeared in her mind.

It is indeed a rare and beautiful color.

She felt a strange unease for no reason, but quickly suppressed it.

"Why did it come to this?"

Qingying's tone was indifferent, as if she were expressing regret: "Is Brother Hongli some kind of person who is blinded by lust?"

A'Ruo immediately replied, "That's right, the prince only cares about his mistress. No matter how beautiful a woman is, he won't even glance at her!"

Qingying curled the corners of her lips into a half-smile as she glanced at A'ruo, but didn't reply.

It was at this moment that she suddenly remembered that the embroiderer had a half-dried leaf stuck to her shoulder. Now that she thought about it, she must have been hiding in some bushes or by the wall outside for quite some time to avoid Hongli.

On such a hot day...

Qingying frowned slightly and said leisurely, "Next time you encounter something like this, just let her in."

A'Ruo was taken aback: "Master?"

"The reason the Princess Consort set this rule is ultimately because she doesn't understand Brother Hongli and is worried that servants might take the opportunity to get close to him, which is understandable. But I can't do that. If Brother Hongli sits here for an hour next time, or stays for a meal, am I supposed to make the person who delivers things wait outside for an hour?"

"What if someone gets heatstroke in this sweltering heat?"

"We can't be so heartless."

Aruo's face was full of disapproval: "Master!"

She couldn't help but recall the kind face the embroiderer had given her earlier, and her heart began to race.

"Alright, alright," Qingying reassured her instead. "There's only one last copy left. Once you've rested enough, go grind the ink. Let's finish writing as soon as possible so this matter can be put to a complete end."

Hearing her say that, A'Ruo could only reluctantly walk to the desk.

She picked up the ink stick, ground it for a moment, and then suddenly came to her senses.

Is this the end of it?

If I finish copying today, won't I still have to go to the main courtyard to pay my respects to the Princess Consort tomorrow?

Wouldn't that mean we'd have to sit there and listen to lectures again?

Aruo looked as if she had swallowed a fly.

-

August fifteen.

The carriage slowly drove along the long street as it returned to the mansion.

Ruofu had been sitting at the family banquet for a long time today, and wearing heavy ceremonial robes of his rank, he was now somewhat tired and was leaning against soft pillows, resting with his eyes closed.

Hongli sat beside her, overjoyed.

He recalled the approving look his father had given him during the banquet, and then looked at Ruofu beside him. He felt that although the lights in the carriage were dim, her profile was indescribably beautiful.

...His wife appeared even more gentle and dignified when she closed her eyes and remained silent.

Hongli watched for a while, then suddenly had a thought and reached out to hold her hand.

"My lady."

The cloyingly sweet voice startled Ruofu, making his shoulders tremble.

What the hell is that noise?

She opened her eyes and looked over with annoyance, only to meet a pair of eyes filled with tender affection in the darkness.

Why are you acting crazy all of a sudden?

She tried to pull her hand away but couldn't. She said irritably, "Your Highness, just say what you want to say. Why are you holding my hand?"

Hongli's gaze grew increasingly tender and affectionate, and his voice was full of lingering emotions: "After all these days of marriage, I still don't know your maiden name."

Ruof: ...Could it be that he also switched places with some playboy?

"Fujin (wife)".

Ruofu shuddered violently, suppressing those terrible thoughts that shouldn't have crossed her mind, and quickly replied, "Ruofu, like water, clear in its heart, unwavering in its will!"

Hongli's eyes lit up slightly: "A good name."

"Of course."

Ruo Fu gave a soft hum, his chin unconsciously rising slightly.

This name was personally given to her by her father in her previous life, a man of great talent who later rose to the position of Grand Tutor.

Hongli gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingers: "Today, we owe a great debt to Ruofu."

His tone became increasingly gentle.

Ruo Fu felt a chill run down his spine, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

In her past life, whenever Sheng Hong started speaking in such cheesy terms, it meant he was going to let her down.

Hongli, unaware of her thoughts, continued, "In the first few days of our marriage, many things happened in the household. We had some misunderstandings and some resentment towards each other... However, you are right about one thing: we are, after all, a proper husband and wife who have sworn allegiance to heaven and earth. We share both glory and loss. The road ahead is long, and we are destined to walk it together."

"I thought to myself, let's not dwell on those unpleasant things from the past. From now on, let's live our lives well together."

In the darkness, Ruof raised an eyebrow slightly.

Why are you suddenly speaking human language?

He chuckled and said, "What are you saying, Your Highness? If we can't live our lives properly, are we going to tear the roof off?"

Hongli's smile froze.

Seeing this, Ruofu finally felt relieved: "Your Highness, rest assured! Some things are predetermined by Heaven. Who sits in what position, and what fate leads to what path. We just need to walk steadily and obediently, without doing things we shouldn't do or having thoughts we shouldn't have, and we will naturally last a long time."

Don't do anything reckless.

She's still waiting to become empress!

Hongli's smile froze. He felt there was something more to her words than met the eye, and was about to press her for an answer when she continued:

"For example, today is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and also the Mid-Autumn Festival. Surely Your Highness knows where you should stay tonight?"